9 Most Beautiful Train Journeys in the World

Road trips are fun, catching flights is quick, but if you wish your journey to be more than just wanting to reach your destination, it is time to hop on a train! There is a unique charm about train rides that bestows a refreshingly traditional vibe. With pastures passing by, waterfalls cascading through hills and snow-clad mountain ranges, a train journey is bound to take your breath away. Here are some of the most beautiful train journeys around the world that everyone should explore at least once in their lifetime:

1. Rocky Mountaineer (Canada)

When it comes to the best train journeys in the world, the Rocky Mountaineer tops the list! The trail covers some of the most scenic locations of Western Canada along with the breath-taking terrains of Seattle, Banff, Vancouver, Jasper, Lake Louise, and Calgary. The two-day route also covers the grand Canadian Rockies, offering a spectacular sight of the awe-inspiring pastures, snow-capped peaks, and gushing waterfalls to the passengers.

The Rocky Mountaineer is a highly sought-after choice amongst travellers owing to its impeccable hospitality and the scrumptious meals it offers, making it one of the most luxurious trains in the world.

2. The Glacier Express (Switzerland)

The Glacier Express is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful train rides in Switzerland. Chugging through 91 tunnels and 291 bridges, this eight-hour journey is bound to offer you an experience of a lifetime. The train affords a surreal view of the Swiss Alps and the lush green pastures dotted with tiny cottages and grazing cows. Along the way, you can enjoy picturesque views of the infamous Matterhorn, the Rhine Gorge, the Solis and Landwasser Viaducts, and the 2044-meter-high Oberalp Pass. The journey comes to an end at one of the most lavish holiday towns of Switzerland, St. Moritz.

3. TranzAlpine (New Zealand)

TranzAlpine is regarded as one of the greatest trains which take people on one of the most beautiful train journeys. Passengers can peek out of the windows to get an enthralling view of Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Greymouth on the Southern Island, Southern Alps, Waimakariri River, Franz Josef, Fox Glacier, and Arthurs Pass. With such quaint sights of rainforests, alpine villages, gorges, and tunnels, your train journey will leave you pulsating.

4. The Ghan (Australia)

Taking you across the most stunning location of South Australia, The Ghan chugs through Adelaide to Darwin. Being Australia’s longest passenger train, The Ghan covers a total distance of 2,979 km in almost 4 days. The train runs across the Alice Springs, Katherine, MacDonnell Ranges, and Coober Pedy, bestowing the passengers with dreamlike views of gigantic grasslands, the red quartzite peaks of MacDonnell Ranges, and the lush green Northern Tropics. The scenery through which ‘The Ghan' passes are bound to take you on one of the world's most beautiful train journeys.

5. Napa Valley Wine Train (California)

We wouldn’t be exaggerating when we say that the Napa Valley Wine Train is one of the most luxurious trains in the world. If you are looking for a rejuvenating ride to the world-famous wine valleys, get aboard ‘The Wine Train’. The 100-year-old railcars are bound to give you a luxuriously vintage experience while you cover some of the most stunning Napa Valley wineries. The fact that the train is actually a restored 1917 Pullman Dining Car adds up to its charm. While chugging past the sun-kissed vineyards of Napa Valley, you can also relish a multi-course meal to turn this into a quintessential luxury train travel experience.

6. Trans-Siberian Railway (Russia)

The Trans-Siberian Railway is known to offer the longest and greatest train journeys of all time. The train covers three of the most fascinating countries – Russia, Mongolia, and China. The Trans-Siberian traverses through the mesmerising landscapes of Novosibirsk, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Lake Baikal, Irkutsk, and Ulan Bator, and covers 9300 kilometres. A captivating ride that lasts 6 days and 5 hours, the Trans-Siberian crosses 8 time zones in which it sees 120 stops. This feat fortifies its spot among the top 10 luxury trains in the world.

7. The Jacobite Express (Scotland)

Traversing through the dewy lochs and widespread glens of the Scottish Highlands, the Jacobite Steam Train is one of Britain's most luxurious trains in the world. Chugging across Fort William in the West Highlands and Mallaig on Scotland's West Coast, the train offers an 84-mile round-trip, covering Ben Nevis – Scotland's highest mountain, and the Glenfinnan Viaduct which was seen in Harry Potter films. The Jacobite Steam Train made a magical appearance as the fictional Hogwarts Express! Experience it and you’ll agree to its reputation as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world.

8. The Flåm Railway (Norway)

The Flåm Railway can be described as one of the top 10 luxury trains in the world with inimitable ease. This railway trip covers Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the Sognefjord, and the high mountains at Myrdal. Do not forget to peek outside the window to get a glimpse of the tunnel that spirals in and out of the mountain that showcases the striking work of engineering upon which the train runs. Chugging across the high mountains and down to the fjord, you will be able to observe the beauty of Norway in its snow-clad mountains, gorgeous waterfalls, and lush green meadows.

9. Bernina Express (Switzerland)

The Bernina Express is known to offer one of the best train journeys in Switzerland that you must experience. It traverses through incredible alpine landscapes and even a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Running across the canton of Graubünden and going all the way to the old town of Chur to Italy, Bernina Express takes you on one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. The train climbs up on the highest railway across the Alps towards the gleaming glaciers and then descending to the palms of Italy.

Travelling by train travel evokes a sense of nostalgia that cannot be experienced in any other mode of travel. Also, if you are someone who loves both nature and art, then these train journeys let you see the canvas of nature in its absolute glory. Brilliant is the word that comes to mind when it comes to describing these iconic train journeys around the world. Before you lose you train of thought, we’d recommend you to put this in your bucket list.